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Haircare

Can you believe that August is already finished? It feels like the summer has gone by so quickly! I’ve managed to finish up a few more products from my stash this month – not as many as I had hoped to finish, but progress is progress.

I’ll include links to my original reviews as well as a comment on whether or not I will eventually purchase a replacement.

Let’s take a look – Bath and Body:

Lavido Thera Intensive Foot Cream – this was a Petit Vour subscription sample. I liked it a lot, but the scent made the Mister sneeze every time I used it, so I probably won’t purchase a full size. Review is here.

Alba Botanica Hawaiian Body Oil – This might be my second bottle of this body oil. I love it, and will buy it again eventually once I finish up a few other body products. Review is here.

Andalou Naturals Kukui Cocoa Nourishing Body Butter – Another Petit Vour sample. I liked this one a lot, but I think I prefer the rose scented one more. Review is here.

Haircare:

Kristin Ess Sea Salt Air Dry Spray – I used this wave spray a lot since I purchased it last summer, it worked amazingly well for my wavy hair. I’m currently testing out another wave spray, so I don’t need to repurchase this one right now, but I probably would get this again eventually. Review is here.

Wise Men’s Care Simple & Natural Men’s Shampoo / Birch Bark Daily Shampoo – This was part of a PR package. I loved the scent of this shampoo, it is very woodsy, and gentle on the scalp. I still have the travel size of this shampoo to finish up, and a few other shampoos in my stash to use up, so no need to purchase a replacement at this time. Review is here.

Skincare:

Lowen’s Get Toned! Vegan Facial Toner – This was from a PR package. I kept this spray toner in my fridge, and used it whenever I needed a spritz of refreshing hydration. I have at least one or two toners in my stash to finish, so I don’t need to purchase a replacement (but I would like to eventually). Review is here.

Goldfaden MD Detox Hydrating Gel – Another Petit Vour subscription sample. I liked to wear this light gel moisturizer under sunscreen. I have so many moisturizers / creams in my stash to use up, that I really cannot purchase a replacement. Review is here.

Lowen’s Bee Local Lip Balm – This is from the same PR package as the toner. I’m a lip balm addict, so you know that I loved this! I still have two more lip balms to finish (and the Mister claimed the third one), so I don’t need to replace just yet, but I would like to before winter. Review of some of the Lowen’s lip balms is here.

Makeup:

Essence I ❤ Colour Intensifying Eyeshadow Base – I had this for way too long (shamefully – since 2016), so I am decluttering it. I’ve recently gotten another shadow base / primer in a recent Petit Vour box. I’d buy this again, it works great and is super affordable. Review is here.

Nyx Tinted Brow Mascara – Another one that I had for way to long! i really liked this brow mascara and will probably buy it again eventually. I’m currently using and loving the Essence Make Me Brow, so no need to replace right now. Review is here.

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Today I have a review of a shampoo and conditioner set from Maui Moisture that has been in my stash for a little while – Colour Protection + Sea Minerals. I’ve been using it for around 6 weeks now, so I think it’s finally time for a review! [info in italics taken from the Maui Moisture website]

This shampoo and conditioner duo is great for my wavy, colour-treated hair. My colour seems to fade less quickly with using them – always a good thing. The shampoo cleans without stripping, and lathers really well for a sulfate-free formula. The conditioner does a great job to hydrate my hair without making it feel waxy or heavy. The scent is really nice, I can’t quite figure out what it smells like, but I like it – it is fresh smelling (and thankfully not over-scented).

Have you tried this shampoo and conditioner?

Thanks for reading

Disclosure: I purchased this!

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Today I have a review of one of my favourite hair products – a hair mask! Funny story, I bought this awhile back, and it got stuck / lost behind the bamboo shelves in my bathroom and I forgot that I had it. I was going through my stash about three weeks ago and I found it, unopened, haha!

This is the first time that I am trying anything from Shea Moisture – I’ve only recently noticed their line being carried at Pharmaprix (Shoppers Drug Mart). I chose the Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen + Restore Treatment Masque. [info in italics taken from the Shea Moisture website]

This deep conditioning masque restores strength and resilience to damaged, brittle or chemically processed hair. Perfect for those who regularly color, straighten, perm or heat style their hair, as well as kinky, curly or wavy natural styles. Formulated with nutrient-rich Jamaican Black Castor Oil and certified organic Shea Butter to replenish moisture and soften while strengthening hair. Helps promote natural growth by supporting hair’s elasticity, reducing the appearance of breakage and shedding. Peppermint stimulates the scalp for an invigorating experience. Leaves hair soft, manageable and shiny.

My hair is fairly thick, wavy and prone to frizz. It isn’t damaged or brittle. I colour my hair, and I rarely heat style.

I really like this hair mask, it works well to hydrate my hair and helps to keep my waves tamed and less prone to frizzing out. My hair is super soft after using.

This hair mask does contain fragrance / essential oils – I wouldn’t say that it is strongly scented, so if you are fragrance sensitive, smell it before buying since the essential oils used in the scent are not listed.

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Another month seems to have flown by, and I have once again managed to finish up a few things. Let’s take a look, and I’ll let you know if I plan on re-buying (either right away, or adding to my wishlist to purchase eventually) or not at all. I’ll also link to any reviews.

Hask Chia Seed Volumizing Dry Shampoo – I already have a replacement in my stash. I like this one because it doesn’t smell too strong, and it doesn’t make my hair feel weird. Review is here.

Evolvh Smart Curl Hydrating Wash and Conditioner – This was part of the EVOLVh Love Your Curls Discovery Kit that was PR Gifted. The bottles are tiny but I got a surprising number of uses from them. Both are going on my wishlist, as I have other shampoo and conditioners to use up in my stash. Review is here.

Native Deodorant Sensitive Formula in Cotton + Lily – I already have a replacement in my stash, in the Rosé Scent, and the regular formula in Vanilla + Rose. I’ve been using Native Deodorants for over a year now. Review for the sensitive formula is here and the regular formula is here.

Nova Scotia Fisherman Naturally Moisturizing Hand & Body Cream – The only reason why I haven’t replaced this is because they were sold out at my local pharmacy the last time that I was buying body lotion, so I bought something else instead. I’ll definitely buy it again because it works so well and the scent is mild. Review is here.

The Ordinary Argireline Solution – This was in my recent mini project pan, it took me longer to finish than I thought it would. I have so many serums on my wishlist that I want to try, so I probably won’t re-purchase for awhile. Review is here.

Camille Beckman Glycerine Hand Therapy English Lavender – This was part of a birthday gift that I received. It was a great hand cream for winter, the glycerine made it long lasting. This was never reviewed.

Milani The Multitasker Face Powder in shade 02 Light Medium. This took me so long to finish after hitting pan. I even re-pressed it! I have other face powders to finish in my stash, so I won’t re-purchase right now. Review is here.

Not pictured: Le Prunier Plum Beauty Oil – this was a Petit Vour sample. I managed to finish it up, and dropped it in the sink while rinsing it out. I really liked this facial oil, but have a few in my stash to finish up. Review is here.

De-Stash / De-Clutter of Old Makeup: These are all more than two years old (the white eyeliner is way older than that) – time to de-stash!

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Another month has just zipped by, and I was fairly successful at using up a bunch of things! As always, I’ll link to any reviews, and let you know if I plan to repurchase (right away, or eventually) or not at all. This is a long one!

Skincare Empties:

Goldfaden MD Bright Eyes Eye Cream – (Petit Vour) I really liked this eye cream, hydrating but not greasy, and most importantly it did not irritate my sensitive eyes. I have at least one or more eye creams to use up right now, so no plans to purchase a full size at this time. Review is here.

Shamanuti Seaweed Toner – (Petit Vour) I liked this toner once I changed the spray nozzle, but prefer rose based ones, so I won’t be buying a full size. Review is here.

Lowen’s You Sure Clean Up Nice Face & Body Wash – (PR gifted) It was such a lovely and gentle face and body cleanser (great for travel). This is going on my wishlist as I have more cleansers in my stash to use up. Review is here.

Drunk Elephant Mini Protini Polypeptide Cream & Mini Beste No.9 Jelly Cleanser – (Sephora Beauty Insider Birthday Gift) I really liked both the cleanser and cream in this kit a lot, and will be adding both to my wishlist as I am still working my way through my skincare stash. Review is here.

Lauren B Beauty Reparative Cuticle Oil – (Petit Vour) I really liked this one for winter as my cuticles (and hands) get so dry. I have another cuticle balm in my stash to use up, so I don’t need to replace at this time. Review is here.

Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses Body Lotion – (Petit Vour) Super hydrating and smells glorious! Going on the wishlist, as I have a few more body lotions to use up. Review is here.

EVOLVH Ultimate Styling Lotion – (Petit Vour) I love this styling lotion, and have another one in my stash already that was PR gifted in the Love Your Curls Discovery Kit. Great for enhancing waves or curls without a crunchy feeling, just soft and frizz-free hair. Review is here.

Natura Siberica Polar Blueberry Beauty Shower Gel (gift from my Estonian in-laws when we visited Tallinn, Estonia) I loved this shower gel and I’m sad that it is finished! I can’t easily replace this, but I would if I could! Review is here.

Little Barn Apothecary Honeysuckle & Grapefruit Body Oil – (Petit Vour) This was a great body oil even though honeysuckle does not work well with my body chemistry. I’d like to try this body oil in a different scent. Review is here.

Makeup Declutter:

Anastasia Beverly Hills Beauty Genius Clear Waterproofing Gel from a Brow Genius Kit – This is ancient (pre-historic even), I found it buried in my makeup stash, the gel has become solid, so I couldn’t use it if I wanted to! This was never reviewed as I got it years before I started blogging.

Colour Pop Ultra Metallic Lip in Man Eater – This is more than two years old, and the texture has gone off, so it is time to get rid of it. This was such a beautiful rose gold liquid lipstick. The shade is still available, so perhaps I’ll eventually replace it! Review is here.

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I was sent the Love Your Curls Discovery Kit (the Smart Curls line) from the team at EVOLVh – it is a four piece set that contains shampoo, conditioner, leave-in conditioner and styling lotion in their new packaging. This four piece kit works together to give your hair soft, frizz-free curls. They are sulfate free, paraben free, gluten free, colour safe, cruelty free and vegan! [info in italics taken from the EVOLVh website]

The ultimate hydrating conditioner for every curl type – resulting in the smoothest hair you’ve ever had with increased strength, shine, softness and curl formation. Simply dreamy is an understatement.

Both have a light, fresh scent – I can’t pinpoint exactly what they smell like, but I do like it, and it isn’t over-scented (a huge plus in my opinion). After using the shampoo and conditioner for a few weeks, that my hair is so soft and shiny, and way more manageable.

The leave-in conditioner:

Nourish and detangle with this weightless creamy formula specifically designed for all curly hair. The addition of shea butter and coconut oil provide additional hydration and fatty acids for rich curl smoothness Strengthens strands, eliminates frizz & flyaways, and prevents breakage while protecting from heat and UV damage. The ultimate hair preparation after showering, and before using our curls styling products.

This makes combing my hair out after washing so much easier. I love that it is also a heat and UV protectant, while also helping to manage frizz and flyaways. It gives an added hydration boost without weighing my hair down or making it feel gross.

The Discovery Kits are a great way to try out a full system without committing to full size products. And they are perfect sizes for travelling! There are three other Discovery Kits available: Turn Up the Volume, Keep it Smooth, and Protect Your Color.

Have you tried anything from EVOLVh?

Thanks for reading

Disclosure: In case you missed it at the beginning, these products were sent to me to try out. I was not paid for this review. My opinions (and troublesome hair) are entirely my own!

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Another month just flew by, and I managed to finish up a fair number of products in my stash. Let’s take a look and I’ll tell you if I plan to re-buy or not, and link you to the original reviews.

Hair, Bath and Body:

Alba Botanicals Hawaiian Body Cream – I LOVE this stuff so much, it smells amazing, and is super luxurious and hydrating. And, it is very affordable. I’ll likely buy this one very soon. Review is here.

Attitude Super Leaves Volume & Shine Shampoo – Another great shampoo from Attitude. I will probably buy this (or another one from their range) at some point – especially because they now have bulk packaging so you can just refill your bottles and save on plastic. I don’t need to repurchase right away as I’m still using my shampoo and conditioner from Oneka. Review is here.

Andalou Naturals Citrus Sunflower Shower Gel – Another gem from my Petit Vour subscription. I really liked this one, so I would buy a full size once my stash is cleared out. Review is here.

Skincare and Mini Project Pan Update:

Pacifica Quinoa Sensitive Super Gentle Face Wash – I really liked this one a lot, so good for sensitive skin. I have several cleansers to use up, so no plans to repurchase right away. Review is here.

Goldfaden MD Bright Eyes Eye Cream – Another Petit Vour gem! Really great brightening eye cream, I use it daily, and have another deluxe sample in my stash, so no need to purchase a full size right now. Review is here.

Lowen’s Natural Skincare Lip Balms in Funky Cold Camelina and Creamsicle – These came in a beautiful PR package. I am a lip balm addict, and I absolutely loved these two. I have a few more from Lowen’s so I don’t need to purchase replacements right now. I’m currently using the Be Local Lip Balm from Lowen’s. Review is here.

Mini Project Pan – Serum Stash Empties and Update: The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid and Ascorbyl Glucoside – I was able to successfully finish these two from mini project pan. The Argireline Solution has just under 1/8 left to use up, and the Caffeine Solution has just under 1/4 left to use up. They will hopefully be in my May Empties. No plans to repurchase right now, I’d like to try some other brands.

Makeup De-Stash / De-Clutter:

Urban Decay Lipstick in Fiend – This was nearly finished, but it was so old, and was definitely going off. It was one of my fave MLBB lipstick shades. I don’t even think that this shade exists anymore!

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella – I got this back when Nars was cruelty free, possibly in one of the Beauty Insider annual birthday gifts. It is quite old and had started to dry out.

Pacifica Stellar Gaze Length & Strength Mineral Mascara – Another Petit Vour find. I liked how this mascara made my lashes feel, but my eyes are too watery for this mascara so it just is not the one for me. Review is here.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Eye Pencil in Perversion – I’ve been using this and the shade Zero for a million years (repurchased several times). This one is quite old and is dried out, so into the bin it goes. I have a ton of black liners in my stash, so no need to repurchase right now. I’m currently using the Rodial Smokey Eye Pen.

There you have it, all the empties and de-stash for this month! Have you finished up much this month? Do you ever de-stash / de-clutter?

Thanks for reading

Disclosure: This blog post contains a mix of products – mostly purchased by me, but some are PR samples (as indicated above). However, my opinion is my own, regardless.

Oneka’s all natural personal care products were created out of a respect for our water sources and the many organisms that help clean and purify it along its way. Rather than causing damage or polluting; Oneka products work WITH the elements of nature. We do this by using certified organic and wild harvested herbal extracts to nourish the hair and body without the use of sulphates, parabens, or synthetic fragrances.

Now onto the Cedar & Sage Shampoo & Conditioner:

Take a deep breath of the Boreal forest’s rich, earthy scent and enjoy our cedar and sage shampoo [and conditioner], specially formulated to help revitalize your scalp naturally. Your hair will absorb the cedar, known for its antibacterial properties, for a deep cleansing effect. The sage, known to help balance sebum production, blends with the hemlock, burdock, and nettle extracts to invigorate and stabilize. Go ahead – let the scent of the forest soothe your soul and amplify your senses.

Both the shampoo and conditioner smell amazing – I love the woody, earthy scent.

Recently my scalp has been very sensitive – probably due to the cold winter weather and hat wearing. The shampoo makes my hair feel super clean and my scalp feels soothed and refreshed. The conditioner feels light and hydrating. My hair feels super soft after using this shampoo & conditioner duo, and my scalp is no longer feeling easily irritated.

And a lot of stores that carry Oneka have refill stations – so you can just pay for a refill instead of buying new bottles – so yay, less plastic waste to be recycled!

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Today I’m continuing with my reviews of some of the products that came in my awesome PR package from Canadian company Lowen’s Natural Skincare (Part 1 and company info is here). Today’s reviews are of Shampoo is Betta (vegan hydrating shampoo) and Rub It In Why Don’t Ya! (face, hand & body lotion). [info in italics taken from the Lowen’s Natural Skincare website]

The shampoo also smells amazing without being over-scented – with rosemary and peppermint being the main scents that my nose can identify. It rinses out nicely and doesn’t leave a filmy residue, leaving my hair clean, soft and hydrated.

Onto Rub It In Why Don’t Ya! the face, hand and body lotion with the best name ever!

I formulated Rub it in Why Don’t Ya (RIIWDY) formulated specifically for our daughter Lowen back when she was barely walking. It is safe, effective and long lasting and particularly great for those with sensitive skin. Our natural is paraben free, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, contains no added fragrances and we only use minimal preservation. Try it. We’re confident you’ll love it!

Another sensitive skin dream product! It really is long lasting – I’ve been using this more as a body lotion than as a face lotion after a bath or shower and it keeps my skin hydrated all day!